Australia
SpeciesField NotesLog inDownload

Field notes

Stay in the loop

Get updates, new features, and Australian birding news.

By subscribing, I agree to receive BirdUp Australia updates, new features, and Australian birding news.

Australia
Download for iOSDownload for AndroidSpeciesField NotesRSSNewsletterBrandPrivacyTerms

BirdUp Australia Pty Ltd © 2026. Made in Australia for Australian birders.

  1. Species
  2. ›
  3. Diomedeidae
  4. ›
  5. Thalassarche
  6. ›
  7. Indian Yellow-nosed Albatross

BirdUp · Species

Indian Yellow-nosed Albatross

Thalassarche carteri(Rothschild, 1903)

Conservation status: EndangeredOrigin: Native
Order
PROCELLARIIFORMES
Family
Diomedeidae
Genus
Thalassarche

At a glance

The Indian Yellow-nosed Albatross is a very large bird, about 75 cm long, listed as Endangered and native to Australia. It can be seen year-round.

Size
75 cm
Conservation status
Endangered
Origin
Native
Best seen
Year-round
Commonness
Rare
  • Identification
  • Where
  • When
  • Behaviour

01 · Identification

How to tell it apart

What does an Indian Yellow-nosed Albatross look like?

The Indian Yellow-nosed Albatross is a very large bird, about 75 cm long and weighing 2130–2930 g.

The Indian yellow-nosed albatross is a member of the albatross family, and is the smallest of the mollymawks. In 2004, BirdLife International split this species from the Atlantic yellow-nosed albatross; however Clements has not split it yet, and the SACC has not either, but recognises the need for a proposal.

Description · wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

Field specs

Length
75 cm
Weight
2130–2930 g
Wingspan
180 cm

Measurements · avonet · CC BY 4.0

03 · When

When to look

When can you see an Indian Yellow-nosed Albatross?

The Indian Yellow-nosed Albatross is present across its Australian range year-round, so it can be seen in any month.

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

05 · Behaviour

Habits and haunts

What does an Indian Yellow-nosed Albatross eat?

The Indian Yellow-nosed Albatross feeds on fish/invertebrates, usually foraging in flocks or alone.

The BirdUp app

Log your next Indian Yellow-nosed Albatross in the field

A pocket field journal for 850+ Australian birds. Offline-first, smart ID, and a lifelist that travels with you.

Get the appRead field notes
Spotted something wrong on this page? Report incorrect info

02 · Where

Where to find it

Where does the Indian Yellow-nosed Albatross live in Australia?

The Indian Yellow-nosed Albatross is native to Australia, recorded across 29 of Australia’s bioregions.

BreedingPrince Edward Is. (south of South Africa), Crozet Is. (south of Madagascar), Amsterdam, St. Paul and Kerguelen is. (south-west to south-east Indian Ocean)

Non-breedingMainly south Indian Ocean between Tropic of Capricorn and Subtropical Convergence

Distribution from BirdUp Australia community data

Legend

  • Non-breeding
  • Resident
  • Breeding

7 regions recorded